More than just a routine rasp, your horse’s dental care plays a vital role in their overall health, comfort, and performance. This article explores why regular dental checks are essential, how a horse’s unique tooth structure can lead to hidden problems, and the key role of qualified professionals in keeping mouths healthy.
If you’ve ever wondered whether annual dental visits are really necessary, or what’s actually happening inside your horse’s mouth, this is a must-read. It explains the risks of overlooking dental care, what to expect from an examination, and how regular checks can prevent discomfort, improve condition, and support long-term wellbeing.
Why does my horse need dental visits?
Good dental care is an important part of keeping horses healthy, comfortable, and able to perform at their best. Dentistry should go hand in hand with routine care such as vaccinations, worming, and farriery and not be overlooked. Routine dental care helps prevent discomfort and supports the horse’s ability to chew food efficiently. By keeping your horse’s teeth healthy, you help them eat efficiently, maintain body condition, and maximise throughout their life.
Who can perform equine dentistry in the UK?
In the UK, routine equine dentistry may be performed by veterinary surgeons or qualified Equine Dental Technicians. Recognised professional bodies include:
- British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT)
- Worldwide Association of Equine Dentistry (WWAED)
Members of these organisations have undertaken training and examinations to demonstrate competence in equine dental procedures. Veterinary surgeons are also qualified to perform dental work and are required for certain advanced procedures.
What is an EDT?
An Equine Dental Technician (EDT) is a trained professional who specialises in the examination and maintenance of horses’ teeth. EDT’s are skilled in performing routine dental procedures such as oral examinations, rasping sharp enamel points, and maintaining a balanced occlusal (biting) surface. An important part of the EDT’s role is identifying dental abnormalities or disease and advising when veterinary involvement is required.
Why do horses require routine dental checks?
Horses have a unique dental system. Their teeth are hypsodont, meaning they continue to erupt throughout much of their life to compensate for constant wear from chewing fibrous forage. Most horses have 36–44 teeth, including incisors at the front of the mouth and cheek teeth (premolars and molars) at the back.
The incisors are used for grasping, biting and cutting forage, while the cheek teeth grind food to form a bolus (round ball of food material) before it is swallowed. Because the upper jaw is slightly wider than the lower jaw, horses often develop sharp enamel edges on the outside of the upper teeth and the inside of the lower teeth. If left untreated, these sharp points can cause ulcers in the cheeks or tongue, discomfort when eating, poor chewing efficiency, weight loss, or resistance when ridden. Routine dentistry is required because the constant rate of tooth eruption means the teeth become progressively sharper and need rasping at least once a year. However, reducing sharp enamel points is only one part of the dental examination and treatment; there are multiple pathologies that can occur within a horse’s oral cavity that EDT’s and vets check for.
How often should my horse have a dental exam?
The frequency of dental examinations varies depending on the age of the horse. Each EDT/veterinary surgeon will have their own preference for the age at which they would like to start, or how regularly horses are seen for dentals, as of course, each horse will be treated as an individual and differ in their eruption rate and dental requirements. As a guide
- Young horses (2–6/7 years): Often checked every 6 months while teeth are erupting and changing.
- Adult horses (7–15 years): Usually require an examination once a year. Although competing horses,
sensitive horses or an unbalanced mouth may continue on 6-monthly treatments. - Older horses (15+ years): May benefit from checks every 6 months, as ageing teeth can develop wear
abnormalities or disease.
Regular checks allow problems to be detected early before they become painful or more difficult to manage. Little and often is the way forward.
